Methods and apparatus for remotely monitoring and/or controlling a plumbing system

ABSTRACT

Methods and compositions for controlling and monitoring residential and commercial pumping systems. Preferably, the controlling and monitoring functions include a remotely located controller component capable of displaying alerts and/or from which a user may input commands regulating the functioning of the plumbing system. In particularly preferred examples, the plumbing system is an “on command” hot water system in which hot water availability, use and energy efficiencies and conservation are monitored and maximized.

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/367,387,filed Dec. 2, 2016 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,215,424), which was acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/092,040,filed Nov. 27, 2013 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,513,019), which are each herebyincorporated by reference herein in heir entirety.

The present invention is generally directed to plumbing systems and moreparticularly to operation, control and monitoring of plumbing systems.In preferred examples, the invention is directed to controlling,sensing, and/or monitoring of plumbing systems, such as “on demand” or“on command” type hot water plumbing systems, at a distance remote fromthe pump or hot water source of the system. In some examples,controlling, monitoring and/or sensing may be done wirelessly, throughdigital USB, Ethernet or internet connections such as DSL or cable, orat least partially through existing electrical supply lines, such as ACpower supply lines, in conjunction with one or more microprocessor,wherein at least one such microprocessor is comprised in a remotecontroller component. Such remote controlling, sensing, and/ormonitoring systems permits a user to optimize the efficient use of powerand water resources towards the attainment of high thermal and economicefficiency.

Water and energy conservation is of utmost importance for bothresidential and commercial plumbing systems. In a dwelling, aconsiderable amount of thermal energy may be wastefully dissipated fromhot water lines which provide hot water to plumbing fixtures, such asdomestic wash basins, showers, dishwashers, washing machines, etc.Commercial establishments also experience wasteful water and energylosses due to continuously running hot water recirculation systems orfor timing or delivering hot water to numerous fixtures, such as inhotels and the like. In both home and commercial establishments, ifcooler water is allowed to run down the drain while waiting for hotwater to be delivered to the fixture from a remote hot water source, asubstantial waste of water (water loss) may occur.

In some homes and many commercial establishments, such water loss may bereduced by providing plumbing systems that continuously circulate hotwater from a hot water source to the fixture and back to the hot watersource. In this arrangement, a supply of hot water is always adjacent toa plumbing fixture despite the remote position of the hot water source.

However, while this arrangement reduces water loss, it is not energyefficient because the array of pipes interconnecting the plumbingfixtures and the hot water source provide a large surface area forthermal radiation to occur. In addition, continuously running arecirculation pump contributes to additional expense, which may beparticularly egregious as the costs of electrical energy continue toincrease.

Methods for reducing thermal losses in both circulating andnon-circulating plumbing systems have included the installation ofinsulation on the hot water delivery lines and/or the hot water sourceand or storage tanks which feed the plumbing fixtures. While theinstallation of such insulation slows the dissipation of heat, nosavings occur over an extended period of time in non-circulating systemsbecause intermittent use of hot water through the lines still allows hotwater to cool to ambient temperatures. That is, the insulation merelydelays the heat dissipation but does not reduce is.

Hot water command systems have been developed, such as for example, setforth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,277,119; 5,385,161; 5,829,475; 6,962,162; and8,505,498. The system described in these patents significantly reduceswater and energy loss through the use of an on command control. That is,whether a recirculation conduit is utilized or a cold water line isutilized for circulation of water, such circulation is initiated onlyupon command by a user. Such command may be a manual switch, temperaturesensor or the like. Current “on demand” or “on command” hot watersystems may utilize a controller component such as a microprocessor tosense parameters such as temperature, pressure, time, and the like andto control components of the hot water system. Such controllercomponents are locally located on or near the pump or hot water source(such as a hot water heater or boiler) so as to control the activationor deactivation of the pump and/or adjust the temperature of the hotwater source according to one or more such parameters.

Certain examples of the present invention provide for acommand-regulated hot water system which utilizes at least onecontroller component, preferably remotely placed, to provide anycombination of a variety of safety-related and/or energy- andwater-efficient monitoring and/or control of the delivery of hot waterto a plumbing fixture or appliance, and to control the components ofsuch a system based upon analyses of actual use of water, for example,hot water, at the installed location. Such a controller component may becomprised in or in association with, for example, a computer or mobilecomputing device such as a mobile telephone, tablet computing device ora laptop computer. In some examples, the remote controller may functionin concert with one or more local controller.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one example, the invention comprises a controller component,programmed to operate an “on command” hot water system (“HWS”), andstructured to control said system from a remote location. By a “remotelocation” is meant that the remote controller component resides in alocation other than proximate the hot water system's circulating pump orhot water source; very preferably the remote controller component mayreside in a location selected from the group consisting of a differentroom, a different area, a different building, or a differentgeographical location (such as a different town, city, county, state, orcountry) than the one occupied by the circulating pump or hot watersource. Of course, the system may employ more than one controllercomponent, such as one or more local controller component and a remotecontroller component, configured to work in concert with each other. Inpreferred examples, the present invention involves at least one remotelylocated controller component.

A local controller component structured to control the HWS means acontroller component, located proximate to (e.g., no less than about 5feet from, or no less than about 10 feet from, no less than about 20feet, or no less than about 50 feet from) the HSW, connected, orstructured to be connected, to the HWS by means of a communicationsystem such as, without limitation, a power line networking (PLN), DSLor cable internet connection, an ethernet system, a USB or otheruniversal computer buss, or a wireless networking system.

In certain applications, the a controller component may reside within acomputer, for example a general purpose computer, residing in a locationremote from the HWS and configured to run HWS control software such thatit sends signals to, and receives signals from, one or more localcontroller and/or one or more component of the HWS, thereby controllingthe operation of the HWS. By “signal” or “signals” is meant analogand/or digital signals, including in certain cases, a simple electricalswitch, conveyed either wirelessly or directly.

In certain examples, a controller component may be configured tofunction wirelessly. For example, the controller component may becomprised in or to function in conjunction with a general purposecomputer, a smartphone, a tablet computer, or other device comprising amicroprocessor component and configured to communicate over the internetthrough, for example, and without limitation, WiFi, Bluetooth, satelliteor a cellular telephone network, such as 3G, 4G, 5G or any subsequentlydeveloped wireless data transfer technology.

In certain configurations, a controller component may reside in a roomor other location remote from the HWS, but still communicate with theHWS system directly, rather than wirelessly. For example, the controllercomponent may be connected to the HWS through a power line network(PLN). A power line network is a communications network that permitsdata communications through pre-existing premises wiring, for example,within a single building, or a network of buildings. PINs operate byadding a modulated carrier signal, such as an amplitude-modulatedsignal, to the premises' wiring system. Typically, the carrier wave isbetween about 20 kHz and about 200 kHz, and is modulated by digitalsignals. The signals can, for example, be detected by a receiverconnected directly to, or as part of, an HWS component. The receivermay, for example, be plugged into a premises' AC outlet, or can bepermanently wired into place. For example, a PLN adaptor that plugs intoa power outlet can establish an Ethernet connection using the existingwiring in the premises. Thus, using two such adaptors (as a non-limitingexample, one PLN adaptor plugged into a power outlet and connected viaan Ethernet cable to a controller component contained in a computer (the“controller component end” of the network connection), and the otheradaptor (the “HWS end” of the network connection) plugged into a poweroutlet and connected via an Ethernet connection to a HWS component), theremotely located controller component can be used to monitor and/orcontrol the HWS system. HWS components may comprise, for example (andwithout limitation), one or more of a circulating pump, a hot watersource (e.g. a hot water heater or a boiler), a timer, a localcontroller, a flow sensor, a sound detector, a flow valve, a pressuresensor, a video camera, a sonar detector, a microphone, a moisturesensor and a temperature sensor.

In other examples the direct connection may be made using conventionalcabling, such as by Ethernet; local networking cables; USB or similaruniversal digital busses; cellular or conventional telephone networklines and terminals, cable television lines, and the like, or anysubsequently developed non-wireless data transfer technology.

When such a remote networking connection is made, the controllercomponent may be used in conjunction with the controlling, detecting,and/or monitoring of other premises-related equipment and services. Forexample, if the controller component is comprised in a microprocessor ofa computer, the computer can also be programmed to control alarmsystems, appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioning, heating,door locks, lighting, and the like, in addition to the HWS, and tomonitor utilities, such as water usage, electrical usage, and the like.In some cases the remote controller may connect wirelessly with anadditional controller component of a computer such that the remotecontroller sends signals to one or more additional controller component,each or any of which may be structured and/or configured to receivesignals directly or indirectly from the remote controller and generateand send a control signal to, one or more HWS component. Additionallyand/or alternatively, the additional controller component may beconfigured to directly or indirectly receive sensor signals from one ormore HWS component, and generate a processed sensor signal and/orforward a sensor signal to the remote controller.

Alternatively or additionally, a controller component may be used inconjunction with, for example, a directly wired (e.g., cable or DSL),and/or a wireless data, internet, or cellular telephone data network(for example, satellite, SSM, Bluetooth, Edge, 3G or 4G) to send data toand receive data from other computing devices, such as computers, mobiletelephones, tablet computing devices, and the like. In this way,relevant parameters of the HWS may be manually monitored (including,without limitation, water flow, still or video cameras, water linepressure, water temperature, pump status and/or flow rate, hot watersource temperature, status and/or thermostat temperature, moisture insurrounding rooms [indicating a water line break], time of day and dayof week, timer status and settings, and the like) for example, by apremises owner or administrator, who may receive updates or alerts fromthe controller component informing them of the status of the HWS at agiven time, and who may respond to such an alert with appropriateactions or input, such as turning the HWS, pump, or hot water source onor off, or adjustment of hot water source temperatures or temperatureparameters such as the slope of a water temperature gradient as a signalto turn on or off the pump.

In addition to text alerts, in the present invention a controllercomponent may send a video file or live video feed to a user, forexample, by text messaging, or email, to a user, allowing the user toinspect one or more location or segment of the HSW. In other oradditional examples, the user may use a computer, cell phone, tabletcomputing device or other device to access and inspect a given locationor station of the HWS by video camera in real time. Video cameras may beplaced, for example, at locations corresponding to connections betweenvarious HWS components, such as pipe connectors, hot water sourceconnectors, pump(s), sensor connectors, valve connectors, plumbingfixtures, and the like.

A HWS system having a hot water circulating pump in accordance with thepresent invention may include a remotely located controller componentfor detecting, measuring, implementing or sensing an event via sensorsignal, for example, the user may check the status of the pump; activateor deactivate of the pump; or turn the pump on or off. In one exemplaryHWS, a temperature sensor, in conjunction with a controller component,senses a change in water temperature over a temperature gradient timeperiod, such as about 5 seconds or more, or about 10 seconds or more, orabout 30 seconds or more, or about 45 seconds or more, or about 1 minuteor more, or about 2 minutes or more, or about 3 minutes or more, orabout 4 minutes or more, or about 5 minutes or more. The controllercomponent may be programmed to turn off the circulating pump if a ΔTincrease in temperature over this temperature gradient time periodexceeds a certain number of degrees (the ΔT threshold), for example 1°F. or more, 2° F. or more, 3° F. or more, 4° F. or more, 5° F. or more,10° F. or more, or 20° F. or more. In certain examples, this ΔTthreshold may be adjustable by a remote user.

In certain cases the HWS controller component may record for each sensedevent at least one parameter which may include (without limitation) atleast one parameter selected from the group consisting of the date, theday of the week, hot water source temperature, hot water source start orstop time, circulating pump start and/or stop time, the ΔT threshold,the presence or absence of water in a water line, the presence ofdetectable sound in a water line, the duration of pump activation, waterpressure, the hot water flow, the water temperature in the hot water orcold water line, and cold water flow.

An important aspect of certain examples involves a controller componenthaving a memory function, permitting incoming data to be stored forsubsequent calculations, statistical analysis, display, or archiving.

The HWS of the present invention may comprise a timer, for example, atimer built in as part of the circulation pump or a timer comprised withthe controller component, which is fully adjustable to turn the HWS onor off, as desired, at particular times, or after a particular timertime period has elapsed or event has occurred. The timer turning thepump on would very preferably be subject to an override if the ΔTthreshold is exceeded, since in this event there is already sufficienthot water demand to prime the hot water line(s). Likewise, if thecontroller detects that there has been no hot water draw by a fixturewithin a predetermined time period, such as one or more days or one ormore weeks, or detects a lack of hot water in the lines, the controllermay activate the recirculation pump (and hot water source, ifapplicable) to circulate hot water through the system. For example, ifthe HWS is located in a vacation location subject to temperatures belowfreezing, or lack of hot water in the lines, and the HWS is not usedregularly (e.g., for one or more days or one or more week), thecontroller may be programmed to turn on the HSW for a short period atpredetermined intervals (e.g., once or twice a day) until regular use ofthe HSW is resumed to prevent freezing of the pipes.

The controller component may comprise a safety feature comprising a“lock out” feature whereby, when the controller component detects a lackof water (such as a loss of water pressure or flow), or a lack of hotwater in a water line, the pump is turned on for a predeterminedcirculation time period, such as about 4 minutes to about 10 minutes, toattempt to re-prime the lines. In such an event an alert (which mayinclude a video feed or file) may also be sent to the remote controllerfor monitoring by the user. In some examples, the user may choose fromany of a plurality of available video feeds to check the line for leaks.

Furthermore, in certain examples, the controller component may analyzerecorded parameters, for example, to determine patterns of pumpactivity, water presence or flow, water pressure, temperature, period ofpump activity or inactivity, period of hot water source activity orinactivity, and, according to present and/or adjustable criteria, mayactivate or inactivate the pump, water flow pattern, and/or hot watersource in accordance with such patterns in order to optimize theefficient functioning of the HWS and the conservation of water andelectricity.

Thus, according to certain examples, a hot water system comprises aremotely located controller component of the present invention throughwhich the user may receive information concerning the current orhistorical state of the HWS; preferably, the user can send informationvia the remotely located controller component to the HWS, confirming orcausing a change in the operation of at least one component of the HWSfor a period of time.

A controller component may, for example, reiterate one or more of theabove noted steps for providing updated patterns of pump activity, thusenabling pump activation to be continually changed in response to usageof the system.

More particularly, a controller component may also include analyzing thedetermined or updated patterns for potential problems, such potentialproblems including, but not limited to, identifying a leak in theplumbing system, excess running of the pump, and non-seasonal changes ina relationship between hot and cold water use. Also, temperature sensorsmay be used to detect freezing temperature and circulating water toavoid damage to hot and/or cold water lines. Preferably, the H'S canthen send a control signal to the remotely located controller component;the controller component may be programmed to respond to the controlsignal with predetermined instructions to one or more HWS componentwhich may correct the indicated problem by, for example, shutting theHWS down, starting or shutting down the circulating pump, adjusting thehot water source temperature, or other corrective actions.Alternatively, or additionally, the remotely located controllercomponent may be programmed to send an alert providing status data tothe user, thereby permitting the user to perform manually performdiagnostic and/or control functions, either alone, or in conjunctionwith one or more additional controller components.

Additionally, or alternatively, the remotely located controllercomponent may display an alert (which may include an image, video, orvideo feed) providing a HWS user or administrator with the opportunityto take a corrective or alternative action with respect to the operationof the HWS, and/or convey the information to other remote communicationsdevices for automated rectification of the issue, such as computers,tablet computing devices, smartphones, Google® glass, or the like,either with or without the opportunity or need for the recipient to takeappropriate intervening action, such as sending a signal to the HWS froma remote location using the remotely communications devices.

The present invention may also provide methods for managing water usageand reducing water waste and energy waste for example, by using theremotely located controller component of the present invention, in whichthe HWS is monitored and controlled based on the actual hot water andenergy use, both historical and present, of the plumbing system(including the energy consumed by the hot water source (e.g., a boiler,hot water heater, and the like). Water and/or energy usage may beaccessed by, or reported to a user (which may include a utility company,government agency, building management representative, or homeowner) asstatistical data, or in a visual format, such as graphically or in achart. Reports may include daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly summariesof water and/or energy usage. Energy usage may be accessed by the amountof electricity used by the pumps of the HWS, and/or by the energyrequired by the hot water source, such as natural gas, propane, heatingoil or electricity. Preferably, the user may select the type of datawished to be analyzed over a given time period by segregating datarepresenting energy used by the hot water source from data representingenergy used by the pump(s) and controller(s).

The present invention may comprise software instructions installed on aremotely located controller component which carry out steps of themethods described herein.

In some examples, the present invention encompasses a hot waterrecirculation system and apparatus comprising a remotely locatedcontroller component which includes a hot water source, at least oneplumbing fixture having a hot water inlet, a conduit in fluidcommunication with the hot water source and the plumbing fixture hotwater inlet for enabling circulation of hot water from the hot watersource to the plumbing fixture and return of the circulated water to thehot water source, and a pump for circulating hot water through theconduit.

A controller component is structured for sensing, detecting, monitoring,and/or controlling events germane to the efficient functioning of theHWS, such as, without limitation, the time of day; the date; the day ofthe week, hot water source temperature: hot water source start or stoptime; circulating pump start and/or stop time; the ΔT threshold;temperature gradient time periods; timer time periods; circulation timeperiods; analysis time periods; temperature limits; the presence orabsence of water in a water line; the presence of detectable sound in awater line; the recognition of voice commands to at least one HWScomponent, the duration of pump activation; water pressure, includingdrops or increases in water pressure; hot water flow rate; watertemperature; cold water flow rate; hot and/or cold water flow,activation of the hot water source: position of one or more manual orautomated valves, and/or activation of the circulating pump.

For one or more such event the controller component may then correlatethe event with at least one parameter which may include, withoutlimitation, the date; day of the week; time; pump settings, timersettings, hot water source temperature settings, duration of pumpactivation; hot water flow; water temperature; ΔT; water pressure; andcold water flow. The controller component is further preferablystructured to analyze the recorded events and parameters to determine orinfer patterns of hot water usage over an analysis time period, therebyregulating pump activation and activating the pump in accordance withthe determined pattern.

In another example of the present invention, a remotely locatedcontroller component for operating a residential or commercial plumbingsystem may generally detect, sense, and/or measure events, with eachevent comprising at least one event selected from the group consistingof: measurement of water temperature and/or water flow in a line orconduit to and from a hot water source; detection of water leaks in hotand cold water lines; detection of water pressure events (includingactual water pressure, or instances if the water pressure rising above,of falling below, preset pressure values) in water lines or conduits;measurement of water temperature in hot water flow from a hot watersource; measurement of moisture in walls and floors; detection ofactivation of water flow dampers; measurement of room temperature ineach of a plurality of rooms; audio and/or video feed surveillance ofone or more location along the HWS circuit; and detection of operationof a water circulation pump.

The HWS controller component may further record for at least one of thesensed events at least one parameter selected from the group consistingof the time of day; the date; the day of the week, hot water sourcetemperature; hot water source start or stop time; circulating pump startand/or stop time; the ΔT threshold, temperature gradient time periods:timer time periods; circulation time periods; analysis time periods; lowand/or high temperature limits; the presence or absence of water in awater line; the presence of detectable sound in a water line; theduration of pump activation; water pressure; the hot water flow; thewater temperature; cold water flow; and/or activation of the circulatingpump. Thereafter, in accordance with this example of the presentinvention, the recorded parameters are analyzed to determine patternsand water flow, circulation, water temperature and efficient water useis effected with conservation of energy.

In other examples, the controller component exports an alert (which mayinclude an image, video, or video feed) or other HWS data to a wirelessdevice or service, such as (without limitation) a smartphone, a tabletdevice, a computer, or a cloud computing server. A user of the wirelessdevice or service may receive an alert or other information concerningthe HWS and take appropriate and/or corrective action, such as bystarting or stopping the circulating pump, or either adjusting thetemperature of, shutting off, or turning on the hot water source (suchas the hot water heater).

In other examples, the user of such a wireless device or service maytake a similar action without receiving an alert; for example, ahomeowner may turn off the HWS before leaving for vacation, and then mayuse the wireless device or service to restart the HWS before returninghome.

Of course, based upon the disclosure of this specification, the personof ordinary skill in the art will immediately envision various otherexamples of the compositions and methods of the present invention, inwhich other or additional HWS components are used in, or HWS componentsomitted from, the exemplified system and method, and in which thecontroller is structured to function in accordance with each such otherexample.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will appear fromthe following description when considered in conjunction withaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of an “on command” hot water recirculationsystem in accordance with the present invention generally showing a hotwater source (e.g., a hot water heater) connected to a dedicatedrecirculating conduit in fluid communication with at least one plumbingfixture, along with a recirculating pump, switches and a controllercomponent for activating and deactivating the pump the hot water source,and/or adjusting, sensing, detecting and or measuring other HWScomponents based upon a analysis of historical and instantaneous hotwater usage.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of another example of the present inventiondirected to an “on command” hot water recovery system utilizing a hotwater source, a hot water delivery line connected between the hot watersource and at least one plumbing fixture, a cold water delivery linebetween the plumbing fixture, a cold water source and a hot watersource, a pump for circulation of water from the hot water delivery linethrough the cold water delivery line and into the hot water source, aswitch for generating control signals, and a controller componentresponsive to a plurality of control signals for activating the pumpbased upon a statistical analysis of past controller component timing;

FIG. 3A is a flow diagram of another example of the present inventiondirected to an “on command” hot water recovery system utilizing a hotwater source, a large bore “trunk” conduit and feeder loop “branches”for supplying hot water to a multi-room structure, and with datatransmission sent to an exemplary remotely located controller componentlocated in a computer.

FIG. 3B is a detail of the HWS shown in FIG. 3A, showing datatransmission to a wireless mobile computing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIG. 1, a hot water recirculation system 10 is shownin accordance with the present invention. The system 10 generallycomprises various HWS components, which may include a hot water source,for example, a water heater 12, such as a gas, oil, solar, photovoltaic,or electric tanks or tankless water heater, interconnected by means ofpipes 14 with plumbing fixtures 18, 19, 20, 22, said pipes providingconduit means for enabling circulation of hot water from said hot watersource 12 to each plumbing fixture 18, 19, 20 and return to the hotwater source 12. The pipes 14 are thus in fluid communication with thehot water source 12 and the plumbing fixtures 18, 19, 20 in such a wayas to establish a hot water loop 24.

More particularly, the pipes 14 may be comprised of a hot water supplyline 26 which provides means for transferring hot water from the hotwater source (such as a heater) 12 to each of the fixtures 18, 19, 20,22 and a separate hot water return line 28 which provides means forenabling recovery of hot water in the pipes 14 and into the water heater12, after usage of any one of the fixtures 18, 19, 20.

The hot water return line may be a dedicated hot water return line, or(as may be particularly suited for existing buildings lacking such adedicated recirculation line) may be a cold water line cross-connectedwith a valve to the hot water line to serve as a hot water return line.The hot water source 12 may be connected to a cold water source throughinlet pipe 32. The hot water source 12 may be heated in any conventionalmanner. It should be appreciated that the hot water source 12 may be(without limitation) a conventional gas, electric, hydrothermal, solartank or tankless water heater, heater coils or other apparatus asdescribed in e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,224, entitled “Automatic HotWater Recovery System” or the apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No.5,042,524, entitled “Demand Recovery System”.

A pump 30 may be installed in the hot water loop 24 or as part of awater heater for providing means for circulating hot water through theloop 24.

In addition, the HWS may comprise HWS components including one or moresensor 36, which provides means for generating a signal. Moreparticularly, the sensor 36 may, for example, comprise a flow switchwhich detects water flow through the pipes 14, for example, when a useropens a hot water valve, such as a faucet 38, on one of the plumbingfixtures 18, 19, 20, 22. The depicted drawing shows that a signal may beprovided, for example, to a local controller component 40 by wire orwireless means. Alternatively or additionally, a signal may be provideddirectly to a remotely located controller component, such as a computer68. The local controller component 40, if present, may be connected, forexample, by an Ethernet cable 52, to a power line network (PLN) adaptor54 which is plugged into a standard premises AC outlet 56. The PLNadaptor transmits signals (defined as a “sensor signal”) from HWScomponents, which may include one or more of including time, pump runtime, temperature, pressure, sound and other information, conveyed bythe local controller component 40 through the standard premises wiring58 to another PLN adaptor 60 also plugged into an AC adaptor 64 locatedremotely from the HWS, which is connected via a Ethernet cable 66 to ageneral purpose computer 68. The computer 68 memory or hard drive maycomprise software for processing the sensor signals and displaying data,such as water usage, electrical usage, status of the system, and/or anymalfunctioning HWS components. Using the computer, a user may, forexample, turn the pump on or off, adjust temperature presets,temperature gradient time periods; timer time periods; circulation timeperiods; analysis time periods; temperature limits; the ΔT thresholdand/or adjust any other HWS component configured to be monitored, orcontrolled by the remote controller component.

In the event a local controller component is not present, signals to andfrom HWS components to a remotely located controller component may becombined and routed directly to a PIN adaptor and then conveyed to theremotely located controller component, for example, as described above.

In this manner, the activating of the pump 30 may be sensed, and/orturned on and turned off in accordance with signals from the remotelylocated controller component.

Alternatively or additionally, further HWS components, such as, withoutlimitation, a manual switch 42A, a proximity switch 42B, a motiondetector 42C, a temperature sensor 42D, an appliance switch 42E or asound or voice sensor 42F may be utilized to generate signals indicatinguse or nonuse of a fixture 18, 19, 20, 22, or of the pump or hot watersource. The appliance switch 42E may be a microchip which is programmedto send a signal when the appliance 22 is activated for use but beforeactual start of an appliance cycle. The temperature sensor may beconfigured to work in conjunction with a controller component todetermine changes in hot water temperature, such as whether the watertemperature reaches a threshold temperature, or whether a change inwater temperature (ΔT) in the conduit has occurred; thus, in conjunctionwith the controller component, turning the pump on or off, adjusting thehot water source temperature, or both.

Sensor 36 may be a flow switch of conventional construction whichgenerates a signal, for example a digital, analog or electrical signal,in response to water flow through the pipe 14. Although the flow switchis shown disposed adjacent the hot water source 12, it may alternativelybe disposed near any one or more of the fixtures 18, 19, 20, 22 or at acold water inlet to the hot water source. Alternative to, or in additionto, the flow switch 36, a signal may be generated by means of, forexample, a manually activated switch 42A interconnected with acontroller component. The local controller component 40, if present, mayinclude a processing microchip responsive to a plurality of signals fromHWS components through an electrical line or digital cable, e.g., 44, orby wireless communication, for controlling the operating parameters ofthe HWS to optimize water and energy conservation in conjunction withthe remotely located controller component.

The microchip of either or both the local controller component(s) (ifpresent) or remotely located controller component 40, 68 is preferably aprogrammable microprocessor which receives a sensor signal (which termincludes a video or audio feed) from one or more of the HWS components,performs processing of the sensor signal in accord with instructionscontained or loaded into the microprocessor memory, and sends one ormore control signal, for example, to a display, a wireless computingdevice, and/or back to HWS components. The processing step may includedetecting, measuring, or sensing events (which may include eventstransmitted in the sensor signal from HWS components); with each eventpreferably comprising at least one event selected from the groupconsisting of measurement of water temperature and/or water flow in aconduit to and/or from a hot water source; detection of water leaks inhot and cold water lines; detection of water pressure in water lines orconduits; measurement of water temperature in hot water flow from a hotwater source; measurement of moisture in walls and floors; detection ofactivation of water flow dampers; measurement of room temperature ineach of a plurality of rooms; detection of a “power on” or “power off”condition; and detection of operation of a water circulation pump.

Preferably, the HWS components include a timer component. The timercomponent may reside as a separate HWS component, may be incorporated aspart of a controller component, or may be integrated as part of anotherHWS component, such as a pump or hot water source. As with all HWScomponents, in a preferred embodiment, a timer component is configuredto send sensor signals to a controller and to receive control signalsfrom a controller. Additionally, preferably the timer component isconfigured to receive time of day and/or date data in the event of aloss of power to the HWS. For example, the timer component may beconfigured to receive time of day data directly from a satellite, from awireless internet connection, or from a wireless cellular connection(such as, without limitation, 3G, 4G or 5G) when power to the HWS isresumed. Alternatively, the time of day data may be provided in the formof control signal data from a controller component.

The remotely located controller component and one or more localcontroller component (if present) monitor signals from any of thesensors 36, 42A-42E or a designated subset thereof, preferably as afunction of time and time of day to determine, for example, the averagetime of day a fixture 18, 19, 20, 22 is used, and the duration of use. Alocal controller microprocessor may collect data from the sensors for apredetermined analytical time period, (such period may depend on thesensor type, and may comprise, for example, seconds, minutes, hours,days or weeks. The controller component may update the analysis on atimely basis to determine when to turn the pump and/or other HWScomponents on or off, to set or reset the thermostat of the hot watersource, or to adjust parameters concerning the operation andoptimization of the HWS. For example, the pump 30 may be turned on, oractivated, shortly before the preset or recorded use time inanticipation of hot water draw; similarly the hot water source may beturned on, or the water heater adjusted at the same time before thepreset or recorded use time. The time interval of such activation can beadjusted so that hot water is circulated to the fixture 18, 19, 20, 22prior to use. As the time of use may change, for example a switch to orfrom daylight savings time or a change in recorded use patterns, thecontroller component may automatically adjust the time of pump 30activation. In the event that a timer component receives time of dayinformation directly from a wireless data source, the controllercomponent may not in every case be involved in making such timeadjustments.

In certain modes of use, no manual setting or resetting is required. Ifthe fixtures are not used, the controller component may automaticallyadjust to a maintenance level of pump 30 activation, such as 5 minutesevery 2 hours, or any other useful cycle that will tend to keep theconduit filled and replenish the hot water supply. This is particularlyuseful in commercial establishments such as hotels, convention centers,airports, train stations and the like, as well as for home use.

However, in preferred examples while the HWS is configured to require nomanual input, the HWS may accept such manual input, if provided, via aremotely located controller. Likewise, preferably the HWS system andremotely located controller component is configured to provide aremotely located user with alerts and other information, such asanalytics, for example, concerning the efficiency of the HWS system,status of the system, temperature of the water in the conduit or at thehot water source, video feed or video files of one or more locationalong the HWS conduit, electricity use and water use during a period oftime, such as a day, a week, a month, or a year, and the like. Moreover,in preferred examples, the remote controller component may be used topermit the user to manually control elements or components of the HWSand program or override the default automatic functioning of the HWSwith new or modified instructions.

In certain examples, a controller component may receive and send signalsto a valve 48, which may be provided for preventing any flow of waterthrough the hot water pipes 14. The zone valve 48 may be disposed, asshown in FIG. 1, directly between the hot water source 12 and the pump30, in the pump 30, or in the hot water source 112.

The valve 48 may be of a conventional type, such as, for example a zonevalve, which provides complete closure of the pipe 14 at a valvejunction 50. The zone valve may be built into the pump 30 or a watertank and is preferably comprised of a suitable material and structurethat will provide an insulating barrier between water on either side ofthe valve 48 when the valve is in the “closed to flow” position, thusminimizing loss of heat from the hot water source 12 into water in theadjacent return line 28. When the zone valve 48 is in the closedposition, the hot water source 12 is physically isolated from standingwater in the return line 28. As noted above, the zone valve 48 may, ifdesired, be incorporated into the pump 30 or hot water source 12 and ispreferably automated; that is, has a motor enabling it to open and closein response to a control signal. The HWS may have one or more valves inother locations in the circuit the positions of which may be sensedand/or controlled by a controller component.

The zone valve 48 is normally closed to a flow of water therethrough.During periods of nonuse of a plumbing fixture 18, the zone valve 48 isin a closed position, thus providing a positive barrier between the hotwater source 12 and water in the return line 28. This prevents anycirculation which may be caused by temperature differences. As depicted,the local controller component 40 is interconnected with a sensor 36and/or 42A-42E and the zone valve 48 and provides means for causing thezone valve 48 to open and allow water flow therethrough in response tothe control signal.

It should be appreciated that once the pump 30 has drawn a sufficientamount of hot water from the water heater 12 to reach all of thefixtures 18, 19, 20, 22, particularly the fixture most remote from thewater heater 12, operation of the pump 30 may be stopped. For example, atemperature sensor in the hot water return line may, in conjunction witha controller component, sense an increase in the temperature (ΔT) of thereturning hot water, indicating that hot water is circulated in the HWS.The controller component may then turn the pump off.

A controller component 40 may be also electronically programmed tocontrol a sequence of operation of the pump 30 and zone valve 48. Forexample, as indicated above, when the temperature sensor 62 has detecteda preset, preferably adjustable, temperature increase (ΔT threshold) ofbetween about 1° C. and about 15° C. this may indicate that the entireloop 24 is filled with hot water, and a control signal may be sent bythe controller component causing the pump 30 to stop. At this point,controller component may case the zone valve 48 to close shortly orimmediately thereafter and the system 10 will resume a standby position.The controller component function may be overridden, if desired, byappropriate manual switches (not shown).

Similarly, if the temperature sensor 62 indicates that the watertemperature falls below a preset temperature a controller component mayturn the pump and/or hot water source on for a period of time determinedby the size of the HWS loop (such as 5 minutes, 10 minutes or 15minutes), sufficient to heat the water lines and prevent damage due tofreezing of the pipes.

In the present example, local controller component 40 is connected toHWS components 62, 30, 12, 36 and 42A-E and to Ethernet cable 52.Ethernet cable 52 is joined to a power line network (PIN) adaptor 54,which is plugged into a standard pre-existing premises AC outlet 56. Thesignal from local controller component 40 is then carried throughpremises wiring 58 to PLN adaptor 60, which is plugged into AC outlet64. Another Ethernet cable 66 carries the signal to a remotely locatedcontroller component located in laptop computer 68.

With reference to FIG. 2, there is shown, as an another example of thepresent invention, a hot water recovery system 110 which generallyincludes a hot water source 112 such as a gas or electric hot waterheater, connected to a plumbing fixture such as a sink 114 by a hotwater deliver line 116. It is to be appreciated that the hot watersource 112 may be a water heater 112 as shown, an apparatus as describedin U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,224, entitled “Automatic Hot Water RecoverySystem,” or as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,524, entitled “DemandRecovery System”, a geothermal source, a solar source, a photovoltaicsource, or any other source of hot water. Also provided is a cold waterdelivery line 118 interconnecting the sink 114 with a cold water source120 which is also interconnected with the hot water source 112 via afeed line 122.

Optional plumbing fixtures such as, for example, sinks 128, 130 andwashing machines 132, may be provided along with other plumbing fixturesutilized in residences and businesses, all such fixtures being connectedin a configuration with the hot water delivery line 116 and cold waterdelivery line 118 by feed lines such as 140 and 142, respectively. At aselected plumbing fixture, preferably the most remote fixture from thehot water source 112 along the hot water line 116, such as sink 114, apump 146 is interconnected between the hot water delivery line 116 andthe cold water delivery line 118 via the feed lines 140, 142respectively; this type of connection may be termed a “crossconnection”. The pump 146 provides means for circulating water from thehot water delivery line 116 through the cold water delivery line 118 andback into the hot water source 112 via line 122, by utilizing the coldwater delivery line as a hot water return feeder to the hot water source112. In this way, no separate recirculation line need be implemented orinstalled in existing systems. In order for the pump 146 to effect flowin a reverse manner through the cold water delivery line 118 and intothe hot water tank 112, the pump 146 must, of course, develop sufficientpressure to overcome static water pressure in the line 118.

The hot water delivery system 110 of the present invention can be usedin conjunction with an existing plumbing system, which may include thehot water source 112, hot and cold water delivery lines 116, 118, and atleast one plumbing fixture 114. In this instance, the pump 146 may beinstalled approximate to the fixture 114 without disturbing the reminderof the existing plumbing system. The advantages of this embodiment issignificant in that no unwanted disruption of the home or business isneeded in order to implement the hot water recovery system in accordancewith the present invention.

A control system, or local controller component, 150 may be the same infunction as hereinabove described controller component 40 or remotelylocated controller component 66 in FIG. 1, and provides a means forswitching an electrical current outlet 152, or directly or indirectlysending data, to the pump 146 and any other HWS components in order tocause the pump 146 to circulate water, or to stop circulating water,from the hot water line 116 to the cold water return line 118.

As depicted in FIG. 2, sensor signals 162 and control signals 168 areshown as input and output respectively from local controller component150; however, in other examples a local controller may be replaced with,for example, a compiler, router or modem (not shown) which serves torelay sensor data to a remotely located controller component, andcontrol signals from the remotely located controller component to one ormore HWS components. In such examples, the sensor and control signalsmay be relayed to and from the HWS either wirelessly or using a cable orother “wired” connection.

For example, (and without limitation) the sensor signals and controlsignals may be transmitted using a power line network, with such signalsentering and exiting a “HWS-side” power line adaptor 172, wherein thesignals are transmitted via a power line network (PLN) adaptor 172 whichis plugged into a standard premises AC outlet 174. As shown, the sensorand control signals are routed through local controller component 150,connected to a power line adaptor 172 via an Ethernet cable 170.However, the signals may be routed in various alternative manners knownto the person of skill in the art. For example, instead of being routedthrough a local controller component 150 these signals may be directedconnected to the PLN adaptor 172 or, for example, wirelessly transmittedto and/or from a modem or router (not shown), which my or may not beitself connected to a PLN adaptor.

As shown in FIG. 2, the PLN adaptor 172 transmits sensor and/or controlsignals through the standard premises wiring 176 to another PLN adaptor172 also plugged into an AC outlet 174 located remotely from the HWS;the signal may then be routed to a remotely located controllercomponent. FIG. 2 shows one of various possibilities: an Ethernet cableconnects the remote PLN adaptor 172 with a wireless modem 180 thattransmits the data signals via a cellular or wireless data network to aremotely located controller comprised in a mobile telephone, laptopcomputer, or other computing device 178.

In certain examples, it is envisioned that a user will be able in thisor a similar manner to receive alerts containing, or access, data suchas video feeds or files, status and statistical data (including energyand water consumption data) and other information relating to the HWS inlocations remote to the HWS, such as on a mobile telephone or tabletdevice. It is also envisioned that the user will be able to sendcommands from such a device to the HWS, for example, to turn on or offthe HWS system (which may include the pump and/or the hot water source),or to override or modify the automated operation of the HWS, such assetting or adjusting temperature thresholds, setting or adjusting ΔTthresholds, setting or adjusting hot water source water temperature,setting or adjusting pump speed, setting or adjusting timer settings,setting or adjusting duration of pump operation, setting or adjustingperiod of pump inactivity, checking video surveillance at one or aplurality of locations in the HSW circuit and/or switching between suchvideo feeds at will, and the like. These control signals would travelback along the previously described network to the specific HWScomponents affected by the control instructions.

As described in conjunction with FIG. 1, a very useful sensor componentis a temperature sensor 154, which may be disposed in a line 156interconnecting the pump 146 with the hot water delivery line 116through the feeder 140, providing means for causing a controllercomponent to stop the pump 146, thereby preventing heated water frombeing circulated through the cold water delivery line 118, for example,when there is already heated water in the line, or when, as a safetyfeature, the water temperature in the hot water line has reached atemperature maximum or threshold. The temperature sensor 154 may be ofconventional or of special design inserted into the line 156 for waterflow thereover, or it may be a thermistor type of detector (structuredto indirectly determine if delta T exceeds a particular value due to atemperature-dependant change in resistance), for example, strapped tothe outside of the line 156, or incorporated into the hot water source112 or pump 146. The sensor 154 may be of a type for detecting aselected water temperature or change in temperature and in conjunctionwith a controller component causing the control system to start or stopthe pump 146.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a temperature sensor154 is configured for detecting, alone or in conjunction with acontroller component, a predefined ΔT threshold or temperature increase,or gradient, for example, between about 0.5° F. and about 15° F. (suchas about one or about two degrees) in a temperature gradient timeperiod, and in response thereto causing a controller component 150, 178to stop the pump 146. The temperature gradient time period may be setat, for example, about 5 seconds or more, or about 10 seconds or more,or about 30 seconds or more, or about 45 seconds or more, or about 1minute or more, or about 2 minutes or more, or about 3 minutes or more,or about 4 minutes or more, or about 5 minutes or more, and may besubject to user modification or adjustment. Thus, no matter what theactual temperature of the water in the hot water line 156 is, anincrease exceeding the ΔT threshold will cause the pump 146 to stop. Thetemperature sensor 154 may also be operative for detecting freezingtemperature thus enabling a controller component 150, 178 to circulatewater when the temperature falls below a certain temperature thresholdin order that the water pipes can more likely avoid freeze damage.

The pump 146 may be activated by a controller component 150, 178 in amanner hereinabove described for controller component 40 bystatistically analyzing a plurality of control signals generated bysignals from HWS components, such as sensor 160. As hereinabove noted, asensor 160 may comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of at leastone sensor selected from the group consisting of: a manual switch, amotion detector, a still or video camera, a proximity detector, atemperature detector, a flow detector 164, a valve position detector, ora sound detector, as herein described.

Although the flow detector 164 is shown adjacent to the hot water source112, it may be alternatively disposed elsewhere, such as in the line 140beneath the fixture 114. In certain embodiments as many of the sensorsas practicable are located substantially close to the pump and/or hotwater source, in order to reduce the electrical interconnectionrequired.

It should be appreciated that if the pump 146 is not a positivedisplacement type that prevents water from flowing in a reverse mannerthrough it, then a one-way valve 170 should be provided to prevent suchflow. Preferably, the one-way valve is controlled by a motor or solenoidcontrolled by a controller component 150, 178. The one-way valve shouldbe inserted upstream of the pump 146 to prevent water flow through thepump 146 when a controller component such as local controller component150 or remote controller component 178 turns off the pump 146.

Preferably the temperature sensor 154 should be disposed in the hotwater line or attached to it as hereinbefore described to prevent arescission between the hot water delivery line 116 and the cold waterdelivery line 118. However, the pump can be located anywhere throughoutthe system 110 between the hot water delivery line 116 and cold waterdelivery line 118.

In some examples of the present invention, a microphone 184 or sonarsensor may be attached to or within the hot water delivery line 116providing a sound sensing means for detecting water flow in the hotwater delivery line 116 and generating a control signal correspondingthereto which is fed into the controller component 150 in order to turnthe pump 146 the pump on or off, as hereinabove described. Thecontroller component may be configured with word recognition software sothat control signals may be initiated as a result of verbal commands atthe remote controller component.

In addition, a sound-producing element 182 may be installed in the hotwater delivery line 116, preferably proximate to hot water source 112,for generating a characteristic sound in response to water flow in thehot water delivery line 116. Alternatively the sensor and/or controllercan be structured to recognize and distinguish the sound of the pump, orof the flow of hot (or cold) water in the line. Alternatively, a soundsensor such as a microphone may work with voice recognition means in thecontroller component to activate or deactivate HWS components by voicecommand.

A sound-producing element, if present, may include any rotatable devicepowered by water flow (not shown) which produces a sound when rotated bywater flowing therepast. However, any suitable sound-generating element182 may be utilized in the present invention. Since the sound naturallytravels extremely well through water in the delivery line 116, noseparate wiring is necessary and the sound sensor 084 is preferablyconfigured in any conventional manner for being sensitive to the soundgenerated, for example, by the element 182. As hereinabove noted, aseparate microphone, or sound sensitive device, 184 may be utilized forvoice or sound activation for production of a control signal forinputting to a controller component.

While the present invention has been described above as a whole home orcommercial plumbing installation, it should be appreciated that, thepresent invention may be used in zones of a larger plumbing system ashereinafter described. That is, rooms or other areas may be zoned if theplumbing is in a “Trunk and Branch”-type line system.

For example, in FIG. 3A is shown an example of such a system, in whichthe plumbing system is designed so that there is not a hot water conduitlaid out in a single loop, but rather the plumbing is designed to servediscrete zones of a single structure, or more than one structure, eachof which may have its own unique hot water demand patterns. As depictedin FIG. 3A, the structure is a multistory building, such as an apartmentbuilding or condominium complex. The HWS is structured as follows: wateris conveyed from a water source 301 via conduit 303 to a hot watersource, such as a boiler 305. Pump 307 is used to direct hot water intoa conduit 311 having a large enough bore to service all feeder loops 315simultaneously which extends along a dimension of the structure, and ispreferably insulated to retain the temperature of hot water within thebore thereof. Feeder loops 315 in fluid communication with conduit 311extend vertically along, and preferably on either side of, a verticallyextending common wall of the structure 323 separating rooms plumbed withhot water fixtures 319. The rooms may contain one or more sensor 321,such as a motion sensor or a sensor that sends a signal when a plumbingfixture is opened, to inform the HWS controller component(s) (forexample, 309) when a particular feeder loop is required to be chargedwith hot water. In some preferred examples, each feeder loop may haveits own local controller component, which may be independentlycontrolled and monitored by the remote controller component.

In an alternative embodiment a hot water storage tank may be interposedbetween the hot water source and the conduit. The hot water storage tankmay comprise a temperature sensor in communication with a controllercomponent which operates the circulate water through the hot watersource in order to maintain the water at a given temperature.

When a sensor 321 in or proximate to a room or area served by a givenfeeder loop 315 indicates that the room or area has a hot water demand,a pump 317 serving that feeder loop 315 is turned on so that hot waterfrom conduit 311 may circulate in that loop and is available for use inany of the rooms or areas served by that feeder loop. Temperaturesensors 323 may be placed downstream of the pump on each feeder loop 315to indicate a change in the temperature of the recirculating water overtime, as previously discussed in conjunction with other examples. If anincrease in the predetermined ΔT threshold indicates that the feederloop 315 is charged with hot water, the temperature sensor 321 may senda signal to the controller component to shut the pump 317 serving thatfeeder loop 315 off. Similarly, if the hot water reaches a maximumthreshold temperature, a controller component 309 may turn the pump 317off. In a preferred embodiment both of these functions override anyother instruction (such as by a timer component control signal or asensor control signal 321) to turn the pump on. Also, if the watertemperature within a feeder loop 315 reaches a predefined minimumtemperature, such as a temperature from about 5° F. to about 0° F., thetemperature sensor 323 may send a signal to the controller component 309to turn the pump on, thereby preventing the feeder loop 315 fromsuffering damage due to freezing water. Again, preferably this functionwould override a contrary instruction to turn the pump off which mightotherwise be given by the controller component.

Preferably both HWS sensor signals and HWS control signals are relayedto a local controller, router, or modem. In some examples, there may bea plurality of local controller components, rather than just a singlelocal controller component, as shown. For example, the signals may berelayed between local controller component 309 and feeder loop pumps317, and HWS components such as, without limitation, motion sensors 321and temperature sensors 323 through an electrical conduit 327, whichreceives cables or wiring from HWS components along each feeder loop315. Alternatively sensor and control signals may be sent wirelessly tothe local controller, modem or router.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the local controller, modem or routerpreferably sends these signals to a remotely located controllercomponent 333, 335. For example, the signals may be sent via an Ethernetor cable line, a PLN as described earlier, or wirelessly to a remotelylocated controller component residing on or in one or more computer 335located, for example, in a control room within the building, or (formulti-building HWS systems) a separate maintenance building. The sensorsignals may be sent, for example, to a software program in whichparameters such as water temperature, water flow, feeder loopsactivated, electrical power usage, and the status of pumps and the HWScan all be monitored and controlled. In certain cases, this softwareprogram may also include other structure sensing and control features,such as one or more of features such as, without limitations,surveillance cameras, door locking and unlocking, structure andlandscape lighting, appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioning,heating, garage access, special zone access, security systems, firealarms.

The control or sensor signals may also, or alternatively, be uploaded tothe internet, for example, to one or more web pages for accessing by,for example, remote users such as a building management company.Alternatively or additionally, control or sensor signals may be sent toa wireless remote computing device, such as a mobile telephone 333 ortablet computing device, for example, to be received by a softwareprogram or app loaded on such a device. It is contemplated that on sucha device a user may receive information such as statistical dataregarding energy and water usage, image or video feed, and HWS statusalerts, and send control instructions to the HWS, for example to turnsystem components on or off, to adjust time or temperature thresholds,including ΔT thresholds, and to override contrary controller componentinstructions.

FIG. 3B shows an alternative configuration of the system shown in FIG.3A, in which sensor and control signals are routed through a localcontroller, modem or router 309 connected by a cable (332) to a DSL,cable outlet 331 to the internet, wherein the signals may be uploaded toa mobile telephone 333, for example, through push notification or SMS(text) messaging technology. Alternatively, the receiving instrument maybe any mobile computing device, such as a tablet computing device or alaptop computer.

A method in accordance with the present invention may include sensingand/or controlling activation or inactivation of a pump, sensing and/ordirectly or indirectly controlling water temperature in one or more hotwater line, measurement of water temperature and/or water flow in aconduit to and/or from a hot water source; detection of water leaks inhot and cold water lines; detection of water pressure in water lines orconduits; measurement of water temperature in hot water flow from a hotwater source; measurement of moisture in walls and floors; detection ofactivation of water flow dampers; measurement of room temperature ineach of a plurality of rooms; detection of a “power on” or “power oft”condition; and detection of operation of a water circulation pump.

A controller component preferably records with respect to at least onesuch event at least one parameter selected from the group consisting ofdate, day of the week, start time, duration of pump activation, hotwater flow and temperature and cold water flow and temperature; andanalyzes the event and the recorded parameter to determine patterns ofhot water demand; and activates the pump and controls HWS components inaccordance with the determined patterns.

Preferably, the method further includes reiterating the steps ofsensing, recording, analyzing, and activating/controlling afterexpiration of a predetermined analytical time period. This time periodmay be, for example, one day, one week, or one month. In this way theHWS learns patterns of water usage and hot water demand as they change.

In addition, the method may include analyzing the determined patternsfor potential problems and issuing HWS status alerts. Such potentialproblems may include leaks, excessive running of the pump 30, excessivepressure, system temperatures near the high and low temperaturethresholds, notice of a “power off” or “power on” condition, andnon-seasonal changes in a selection between hot water and cold water useamong others.

Although there has been hereinabove described specific examples ofcompositions and methods for operating a residential or commercialplumbing system, such as an “on command” hot water system in accordancewith the present invention, it will be appreciated that the invention isnot limited thereto. That is, any element described in thisspecification may be combined with one or more additional element, andany described combination may have one or more element substituted oromitted, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.One or more features of any example may be combined with one or morefeatures of any other example, and remain within the description of theinvention. Any range of temperatures, time, or other measurementsdescribed in this specification includes all points and subranges withinthe high and low measurement of the range listed, to 1/10^(th) (onedecimal place) of a unit of measurement. The present invention maysuitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the recitedelements. Accordingly, any and all modifications, variations orequivalent arrangements which may occur to those skilled in the art,should be considered to be within the scope of the present invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Each and every publication, patent, and published patent applicationcited or referenced in this specification is hereby expresslyincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

I claim:
 1. A remotely located controller component for a structural ondemand hot water system (HWS), said HWS comprising a hot water source, ahot water delivery line, a hot water return line, one or more sensors, alocal controller and a hot water circulation pump; comprising: saidlocal controller component comprising at least one input component forreceiving sensor signals, and at least one output component for sendingcontrol signals, at least one said one or more sensors comprising atleast one temperature sensor detecting water temperature at said hotwater delivery line and/or said hot water return line; said localcontroller component being structured to receive temperature-dependentdata from said at least one temperature sensor, and export a controlsignal to one or more HWS components if the difference in watertemperature between the delivered hot water and the water in the hotwater return line exceeds and/or falls within a predetermined value;wherein said remotely located controller component receives sensorsignals from, and/or sends control signals to, said local controllercomponent wirelessly, and contains software instructions installedtherein to calculate and display energy usage data and water usage datarelated to the structural on demand hot water system to the user uponcommand.
 2. The remotely located controller component of claim 1structured to receive sensor signals from, and/or send control signalsto, the HWS via the internet.
 3. The remotely located controllercomponent of claim 2, structured to receive status data signals from theHWS.
 4. The remotely located controller component of claim 2, structuredto receive alert data signals from a local controller component of theHWS.
 5. The remotely located controller component of claim 4, structuredto receive alert data signals from a local controller component of theHWS comprising information selected from the group consisting of image,video, energy usage, water usage, and video feed data to the user. 6.The remotely located controller component of claim 1 structured toreceive sensor signals from, and/or send control signals to, the localcontroller via the internet using at least in part a method selectedfrom the group consisting of wifi, Bluetooth®, satellite, and a cellulartelephone network.
 7. The remotely located controller component of claim6 wherein the remote controller component is structured to receivesensor signals from and/or send control signals to one or more deviceselected from the group consisting of: an alarm system, a refrigerator,an air conditioner, a heating system, a door lock, and structurallighting.
 8. The remotely located controller component of claim 1wherein said one or more HWS components are selected from the groupconsisting of a water flow sensor, a water line pressure sensor, amanual valve, an automated valve, a water temperature sensor, a pumpstatus sensor, a local controller, a sound detector, a camera, a videocamera, a pump flow rate sensor, a hot water source status sensor, a hotwater source thermostat, a moisture detector, a time of day indicator, aday of week indicator, and a timer status detector.
 9. The remotelylocated controller component of claim 1 structured to accept user inputand transmit a control signal based thereon directly or indirectly tosaid one or more HWS component.
 10. The remotely located controllercomponent of claim 1 structured to receive sensor signals from saidlocal controller component indicating an event selected from the groupconsisting of a loss of water pressure, a loss of water flow, or a lackof hot water in the hot water line and, if such event is detected, tosend control signals to said local controller component to cause thepump to turn on for a predetermined circulation time period.
 11. Theremotely located controller component of claim 1, structured todetermine patterns of pump activity, water presence or flow, waterpressure, temperature, period of pump activity or inactivity, period ofhot water source activity or inactivity.
 12. The remotely controlledcomponent of claim 1 comprising a software application configured towirelessly transmit sensor data from said local controller componentand/or control signals to said local controller component.